Explore the Family Name Wachs
The meaning of Wachs
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): metonymic occupational name for a gatherer or seller of beeswax, from Middle High German wahs, German Wachs ‘wax’. Wax was important in former times, being used for example to make candles and for sealing letters. Compare Waks and Wax. Some characteristic forenames: Jewish Abbe, Moshe, Aviva, Chaim, Eliezer, Hirsh, Hyman.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Wachs in the United States?
Based on the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Wachs has slightly decreased. In 2000, it was ranked 20,887th most popular and by 2010, its rank fell to 22,573rd, indicating a decrease of about 8.07%. The number of individuals with the Wachs last name also declined from 1,175 in 2000 to 1,138 in 2010, a decrease of approximately 3.15%. The proportion of people named Wachs per 100,000 population dropped from 0.44 in 2000 to 0.39 in 2010, a fall of around 11.36%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #20,887 | #22,573 | -8.07% |
| Count | 1,175 | 1,138 | -3.15% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.44 | 0.39 | -11.36% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Wachs
When it comes to the ethnic identity associated with the surname Wachs, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the majority of individuals bearing this surname identified as White in both 2000 and 2010, though the percentage did slightly decrease from 96.85% to 96.13%. However, there was a notable increase of 135% in the Hispanic community carrying the Wachs surname during the same period. The Asian/Pacific Islander community also saw a slight increase of 14.29% in the use of the surname between 2000 and 2010. Conversely, the proportion of individuals identifying as two or more races with this surname fell by 15.17%. The surname was not reported among those identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.85% | 96.13% | -0.74% |
| Hispanic | 0.6% | 1.41% | 135% |
| Two or More Races | 1.45% | 1.23% | -15.17% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.77% | 0.88% | 14.29% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |